Lowrie Powers Red Sox Past Yankees in Slugfest

By KC Downey in Featured, Red Sox, Top Story ⋅ September 25, 2010 at 12:09pm ⋅ Post a comment

Jed Lowrie and David Ortiz (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Josh Beckett entered Friday night’s game looking to chase the demons and beat the Yankees on their own turf. With a heavy curveball and a low-90′s fastball with movement, Beckett stymied the Yanks through the first five innings, allowing just one run on a Curtis Granderson blast in the third. As has been the case with Beckett in 2010, all it takes for one inning for everything to blow up, and it sure did on Friday.

Fortunately for Beckett, the Red Sox bats were able to build a 10-1 lead off Andy Pettitte and the Yanks bullpen. Jed Lowrie and Bill Hall each hit three-run shots, and Marco Scutaro and Darnell McDonald drove in two runs each with a single and double, respectively.

Beckett, looking to slam the door on his critics and finish his 2010 season on a good note, stayed in the game through the sixth and seventh innings, and it wasn’t pretty. In the sixth, he allowed two solo shots to Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez, and in the seventh he allowed his fourth home run of the game, a two-run job to Nick Swisher. In all, Beckett went 6.2 innings and allowed five runs (all earned) on seven hits and two walks with four HRs allowed. Eek.

Scott Atchison, in relief of Beckett, managed to record the final out of the seventh, but not before giving up a two-run shot A-Rod, who homered for the second time. Daniel Bard got through the eighth unscathed, but Jonathan Papelbon once again made things interesting when he allowed a solo home run to Teixeira in the ninth, but he was able to help the Red Sox escape with a 10-8 win.

Sox Stud of the Game: Jed Lowrie

Playing at his natural position (shortstop), Lowrie looks more comfortable than ever at the plate. Finally over mononucleosis completely, Lowrie went 4-4 with a HR, three RBI, and three runs scored.

Sox Dud of the Game: Adrian Beltre

I was going to give this to Beckett, but I already crapped all over his game enough. In a 10-run outburst for the Sox, Beltre went 0-5 and did no damage. Surprised? Thought so!

Game Notes:

W: Josh Beckett (6-5)
L: Andy Pettitte (11-3)
SV: Jonathan Papelbon (37)

David Ortiz clubbed his 35th double off the lefty Pettitte.
Mike Lowell left the game after getting hit in the face by a bad hop on a ground ball.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia is out for the season.
The Red Sox are now 6.5 games behind the Yanks and 7 behind the Rays.